Nathaniel Ledbetter
Rep. David Cole arrested on voter fraud charges
Rep. David Cole, R-Madison, was arrested Tuesday afternoon on a charge of voting at multiple or unauthorized locations. Cole, elected to the Alabama House of Representatives last year, was listed in the Madison County Detention Center on Tuesday afternoon. An official at the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, who identified herself as Clerk Lancaster, confirmed that […]
Experts skeptical of Alabama’s redistricting strategy ahead of critical hearing
It’s the plaintiffs’ case to lose. That was the verdict of legal scholars ahead of a critical Monday hearing on whether a new congressional map approved the Alabama Legislature last month addresses a three-judge panel’s concerns about potential Voting Rights Act violations. “It’s always hard to predict, but I think it’s going be a hard […]
Alabama Legislature’s 2023 regular session ends on a quiet note
After a legislative session that included multiple pieces of controversial legislation, numerous filibusters and singing, Alabama legislators finished the 2023 regular session with a relatively noncontroversial calendar and few conflicts. But the price of peace was the death of several notable or controversial bills, including legislation that would have criminalized some assistance for absentee voting; […]
What passed in the Alabama Legislature: May 31 – June 1, 2023
Here’s a list of the legislation that passed the Alabama Legislature this week. Senate SB352, sponsored by Sen. Merika Coleman, D-Pleasant Grove, sets the annual salary of the county tax assessor and tax collector of Jefferson County. The bill passed 35-0 and goes to the House of Representatives. HB411, sponsored by Rep. Jamie Kiel, R-Russellville, […]
Alabama House approves General Fund budget with 2% state employee pay raise
The Alabama House of Representatives Tuesday unanimously approved the General Fund budget for next year and a bill increasing spending for other agencies. The House voted 105-0 for HB 124, sponsored by Ways and Means General Fund Chairman Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, which provides $3 billion to the General Fund budget that provides broad funding increases […]
Alabama Democrats, Republicans support bill to eliminate tax on overtime pay
The Alabama legislative leadership are united on at least one front: eliminating income tax on overtime pay. HB217, sponsored by House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, would eliminate the state income tax on overtime work. The rate is 5% on yearly incomes of $3,000 or more. The bill has drawn several co-sponsors, including Alabama House Speaker […]
Alabama leaders propose four bills to boost state’s economic competitiveness
Gov. Kay Ivey and the legislative leadership Monday called for passage of four bills aimed at making Alabama more economically competitive with neighboring states. These bills build on and strengthen the Alabama Jobs Act and the Growing Alabama program to keep Alabama competitive for new investments and jobs, said Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield. “The […]
The road to Alabama Medicaid expansion might run through an insurer’s pockets
Alabama doesn’t have a popular referendum system, where voters can bypass the Legislature and put measures on the ballot themselves. But I can think of a few proposals that would be near-locks for passage. A lottery? Lots of people want that. I’m not sold on the merits, but the fact is that Alabama is the […]
Alabama lawmakers appear to accept new $1 billion price tag for Elmore County prison
Several Alabama legislators Thursday appeared resigned to a $300 million jump in the price of a prison under construction in Elmore County. The Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority (ACIFA) this week voted to increase maximum funding for the prison from $625 million to $975 million, an increase of 57% that state officials blame on inflation […]
A strange feeling in the the Alabama House: uncertainty
There’s a strange feeling in the Alabama House of Representatives, something you don’t often sense at the start of a session. The first-week rituals went off as usual. Legislators filed bills and resolutions. Members of the House and Senate brought family members on the floor. Gov. Kay Ivey delivered the State of the State address. […]
Alabama Legislature’s plan for COVID money: water and sewers, broadband, health care
The first day of the Alabama Legislature’s special session on COVID relief money lasted fewer than 10 minutes. But legislators plans for $1 billion in money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) became clearer. The House’s General Fund budget chair filed a bill on Wednesday that would allocate the money to broadband, water and […]
If it’s tax cuts you want, start with groceries
Let’s start this discussion of state tax policy with everyone’s favorite luxury food: eggs. In Alabama, according to al.com, the average price of the hen’s product went up 74% last year. Last week, a Montgomery supermarket sold a dozen white eggs for $5.26, about 44 cents per egg. But when you buy that dozen, you […]